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French Copyright Holders Threaten Apple Over Unpaid iPod Tariffs

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 10, 2004 - 6:28am.
Paris -- A French music copyright holders group has threatened legal action against Apple Computer, over the company's refusal to pay tariffs on its iPod digital music players intended to reimburse labels and musicians for sales lost to piracy, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday. France, like Canada and several other countries, imposes extra fees on sales of blank tapes, CDs and other media such as hard drives contained in digital music players like the iPod that are then doled out to musicians and other rights holders as a means of compensating them for the assumed unauthorized copying that the blank media facilitate. The Society of Music Creators, Composers and Publishers (Sacem) said in a statement that unless Apple begins paying the fees on iPods it sells in France, the group "will have no other option than to go immediately to court to make sure that the rights of artists, composers and producers are respected." Sacem estimates that Apple sold 20,000 iPods in France last year. The fees for hard drives vary by capacity, but AP noted that the tariff on a 40GB French iPod ($677) would equate to $24.63.
tags: iPod | Apple | Tariffs | French Copyright | Threaten |

Napster, IBM Launch Bandwidth-Conserving Application for Networks

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 10, 2004 - 6:27am.
Los Angeles -- Napster on Wednesday announced a new "Super Peer" application that uses IBM technology to help businesses, universities and Internet service providers conserve bandwidth while facilitating the streaming and download of digital music. The system utilizes IBM eServer BladeCenter systems running Linux, along with IBM support services to cache popular Napster content in on-site servers managed by Napster, reducing bandwidth and preserving the service quality of other network traffic. Both Penn State University and The University of Rochester, which reached deals with Napster to offer their students access to Napster at reduced costs, will launch the IBM Super Peer application on their networks.
tags: Napster | IBM | Networks | Bandwidth-Conserving |

Online CD Recognition Service Gracenote Raises $13 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 10, 2004 - 6:25am.
Emeryville, Calif. -- Gracenote, a provider of information services for digital music and media, said that it has landed $13 million in its fourth round of funding, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Previous investors Sequoia Capital, Scott Jones and Simon Investments also participated in the round, which the company will use, in part, to expand its staff and accelerate product development. Gracenote's technology, used by makers of digital music and entertainment products, provides such functions as music identification, automatic file formatting and cleaning, automatic playlists and links to related content. Customers include Alpine, Clarion JVC, Gibson Audio, Kenwood, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, RCA, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Yamaha. The technology also is used in media players, including AOL's Winamp, Apple's iTunes and RealNetworks' RealPlayer.
tags: Internet | VC | CD | Gracenote |

Interplay Sues Game Developer BattleBorne Over "Airborne" Contract

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 10, 2004 - 6:25am.
Los Angeles -- Video game publisher Interplay Entertainment has sued game developer BattleBorne Entertainment in a contract dispute over a game called "Airborne," Reuters reported. In the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Interplay says that Reno, Nev.-based BattleBorne has refused to return a $250,000 advance on "Airborne" after the developer terminated its agreement to finish the game. BattleBorne has since negotiated a deal with Acclaim to publish "Airborne." Irvine, Calif.-based Interplay is seeking to reclaim rights to the game, in addition to repayment of the $250,000 advance.
tags: Games | Airborne | Interplay | BattleBorne |